[PGT] Flames fall 4-1. Series tied 1-1.

[FBI]

I was at the game and I definitely didn't think that ferland hit was boarding. BS call. Loved the bump on the goalie right after. Didn't love them able to kill like 45 seconds passing the puck around though.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Took me until now to actually cool down after what transpired last night. Woke up in the foulest of foul moods. I'm sure I'm not the only one.

I'm anxious to see the Flames respond. You know they will. They galvanized after last year's brawl, It's almost a foregone conclusion it will happen again.

The Flames haven't had a kid like Michael Ferland since Ville Nieminen. He's so valuable to this team right now because he's a lighting rod of attention. All attention is on him during play and after the whistles. That's got to throw opposing players off their game. It just has to. Him knocking The Legend on his ass was awesome.

I had to send an email to Sportsnet regarding the unprofessionalism shown by Hughson. It can't go unnoticed. It actually takes away from the enjoyment of the game. Watching it on mute isn't fun. He's a shameful broadcaster and something has to be done about it.

Regarding the actual play. The Flames top line is being absolutely shut down by Tanev and Edler, and props to them for doing it too. It takes quite an effort to shut down one of the best first lines in the NHL. Also, I hate to say it, but Horvat is actually pretty good.

Lastly, the Sedins and Burrows continually spearing guys in the nuts infuriates me. It's gutless. They've done it for years and I don't understand how nothing has been done about it. Russell takes it like a man and jabs Henrik in the mouth. If Russell did that to Henrik, he'd be withering on the ice in pain looking for a call. Canucks hockey everyone. They're one of the worst things to happen to professional sports ever.

[direwolf]

Most importantly, the Flames need a much stronger first period tomorrow. They knew the Canucks would come out flying in game 2, and yet the Flames cearly were not ready to play when the puck dropped. That crappy period is the reason they lost, and they can't let that happen again. Sure they're used to playing catch-up hockey, and we saw plenty of comebacks during the regular season. But that crap ain't gonna fly in the playoffs. Hopefully with the crowd's help, they can play a strong game right out of the gate, use their speed, and force the Canucks to play Flames hockey.

[CaptainCrunch]

I went out tonight and picked up a copy of the NHL rulebook



Suddenly everything makes sense.

[AcGold]

Don't ice our first line to start. Some combo of Colborne, Ferland, Gaudreau and Jones. We need two things

1. A starting line that can steal momentum immediately.

2. A new plan for the zone entries and neutral zone. Ideally cycle the forwards in the neutral zone so that there is always a player ready to break in and shorten the passes. If you're going to give it away make sure it ends up deep and aaply much harder forecheck pressure. Slow their d down in their own zone and force turnovers

[PrettyBoyFlizzy]

The worst thing to do would be to bench the top line to start the game. They know they have sucked and I'm sure they will bring it right off the bat.

The only message we are going to send is they can't beat us.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Don't ice our first line to start. Some combo of Colborne, Ferland, Gaudreau and Jones. We need two things

1. A starting line that can steal momentum immediately.

Made the suggestion earlier

[FireGilbert]

There was a lot to be angry about after this game. I am trying to stay calm though knowing winning 1 of 2 in Vancouver was really a success.

Also, what is the deal with Eddie Lack's dad? I watched the first game on the NBC USA network feed so I don't know if there is supposed to be some amazing back story. Oh, and how is Lack considered "legendary" after one playoff win? On that scale Jonas Hiller and his 13 playoff wins must be the greatest goalie of all time.

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by PrettyBoyFlizzy

The worst thing to do would be to bench the top line to start the game. They know they have sucked and I'm sure they will bring it right off the bat.

The only message we are going to send is they can't beat us.

Or that we're too dumb to adapt. I'm not a big fan of doing the same thing over and over if it's not working. All our best players on one line are getting shut down hard core, don't bench them, break em up so the Canucks have more to worry about.

Give Ferland, Colborne and Jones more ice time. If someone is effective they should get more ice time, do what it takes to win and forget messages. Two small wingers, one of them injured, and a 20 year old centre obviously are not going to get the job done. The big and or experienced bodies should be playing

[PrettyBoyFlizzy]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Or that we're too dumb to adapt. I'm not a big fan of doing the same thing over and over if it's not working. All our best players on one line are getting shut down hard core, don't bench them, break em up so the Canucks have more to worry about.

Give Ferland, Colborne and Jones more ice time. If someone is effective they should get more ice time, do what it takes to win and forget messages. Two small wingers, one of them injured, and a 20 year old centre obviously are not going to get the job done. The big and or experienced bodies should be playing

Sean and Johnny are going to have many more playoff series to come, they need to learn right now how to deal with adversity and respond. Sitting them on the bench and splitting them up right now won't do much.

If we are going to win the Stanley cup with them as our core group they need this experience.

[getbak]

Adirondack's final game starts at 3:00pm MT tomorrow, so it should be over by 6:00. I don't know what the specifics of the AHL recall rules are, but they can recall unlimited players from the AHL once Adirondack's season is over.

If they can do it, I would recall McGrattan (who is in Calgary for the birth of his baby) and dress him for the warm-up. Just tell him to stand at centre ice and stare down the entire Canucks roster.

[Street Pharmacist]

Agostino's numbers impressive lately. Anything there?

[868904]

Originally Posted by getbak

If they can do it, I would recall McGrattan (who is in Calgary for the birth of his baby) and dress him for the warm-up. Just tell him to stand at centre ice and stare down the entire Canucks roster.

What would be the point? The Flames already have 3 guys tougher than anyone on the Canucks. It won't change anything.

I might put Shore or Wolf in for Granlund as I don't think he's been all that effective and both those guys are bigger bodies.

Canucks are an overall bigger team, heavier team, and it shows. The Flames have three tough guys who bring the average up, but the Canucks are really just physically overpowering the likes of Gaudreau, Hudler, Granlund, Backlund, Bennett. 3 kids there who are playing against men, big men. I think the Flames need another big body with skill in there. Not sure why Hartley doesn't like Shore. He hasn't been any worse than Granlund from what i've seen. Must be an attitude thing.

[yads]

Originally Posted by fulham

As a Vancouverite living in Calgary i might be biased but this is my take on first 2 games.

1. Jonny Hockey despite a poor first 2 games offensively,he has impressed me hugely with his defensive play so far, have not seen him miss a back check. He could easily be a better player overall than P. Kane in a few years.

2. The slower, and scrappier the game is, the better chance Calgary has. As they can't compete skill wise with the Canucks in a end to end open game.

3. Ferland is a POS in the best possible way, The flames will need players like him to contend in a few years. Wish he was a Canuck

4. Horvat is going to be a great player, he already is playing shutdown minutes against the Flames best players, and contributing offensively

I can't see the Canucks not winning this series, especially as the Flames top 3 D men tire, and your top 2 centres are hurt.

Overall regardless Calgary wins. As the Flames youngsters will gain valuable experience in a year they were expected to be playing golf by now. Whereas the Canucks veterans will get blasted by who ever they meet in the next round.

Decent analysis, but this is so wrong it's ridiculous. It's not 2011. The Canucks aren't an elite skill team anymore. If anything the Flames have the faster team.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by yads

Decent analysis, but this is so wrong it's ridiculous. It's not 2011. The Canucks aren't an elite skill team anymore. If anything the Flames have the faster team.

They looked like the slower team in game two. I said before the series that the way the Flames played the regular season was not conducive to playoff success and so far they have proven me right. This team simply can't afford their first line to be its worst line as has been the case through most of six periods especially the way the Flames rarely play 60 minutes as they rely on the first line being clutch to make up for the territorial disadvantage they typically play to.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They looked like the slower team in game two. I said before the series that the way the Flames played the regular season was not conducive to playoff success and so far they have proven me right. This team simply can't afford their first line to be its worst line as has been the case through most of six periods especially the way the Flames rarely play 60 minutes as they rely on the first line being clutch to make up for the territorial disadvantage they typically play to.

That's just blatantly false. You haven't been proven right.

The flames haven't played 60 minutes, yes. But neither have the Canucks, Jets, Ducks, Rangers, Penguins, etc, etc. They're not going to dominate 60 minutes in the playoffs. No one is.

They were the better team in many stretches over the first two games, and really only outplayed in the first period of both games. If that's your proof then 16 teams aren't moving on to the next round. They haven't even really been outshot.

They won one even game, lost another when they couldn't score. One game doesn't make a series.

Heck, even from a corsi, or "territorial" perspective they've vastly improved compared to the regular season. They're fine.

First line needs to pick it up, and they need to contain the Sedins. Otherwise the team is playing just fine

[AcGold]

2nd game wasn't even, first was. We did get outplayed in the second game. 23 to 32 shots I think. We need to be better in the first plain and simple.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by AcGold

2nd game wasn't even, first was. We did get outplayed in the second game. 23 to 32 shots I think. We need to be better in the first plain and simple.

I said we won the even game. We only got outshot in the first. Take the first period out and we actually outshot Vancouver. Doubled their scoring chances in the second.

While we did get outplayed, let's not pretend it was by some significant margin.

2 problems: first periods, and top line. Both of which are easily fixed

[calgaryred]

Not sure if the top line is easily fixed, but im sure all Flames fans hope to see a better first period effort, which is a problem with this team in the regular season, and containing the Sedins will help.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

The amount of whining in this thread is unbearable. The NHL doesn't like us, cbc doesn't like us, the referees don't like us.... It just sounds like unbearable whining that people here make fun of other teams fan bases here for. It is only a hockey game, stop taking it so darn seriously.